Quote:
Originally Posted by alwaysin6thgear
It is possible to outgrow mild forms of ADHD, in fact that was the assumption until only the last 20 years or so, that kids outgrew ADHD in early adulthood. Researchers realized that it was not the case, many adults were able to compensate their symptoms which gave the indication that ADHD was gone as an adult. In my case I put all the hyperactivity and energy I had into athletics. I became a competitive long distance runner & cyclist along with other physical activities but I still had other issues that didn't change. I still couldn't focus, my mind was still running a million miles a minute. I actually got involved in a medical research study for the effects of Ritalin on adults. Ritalin was never originally tested for adults only children because at the time ADHD was a kid thing. After realizing that wasn't the case ADD med's were being approved for use in adults. From what you are writing your friend has not outgrown ADHD, in fact her ADD is causing issues that may in the long run put her in rock bottom.
Buy you can't fix her problems, you can't help someone that doesn't want to be helped. As I mentioned in another post of yours, maybe it's time to step back as you can only do so much. She's 18, and no offense but 18 year old's really don't make good choices, I know I work at a college. They think they know everything. You seem more mature and have your head screwed on right but your friend is a different story. But I think you need to back off for a while and let her do her own thing and let her make the choice on what to do. You can only do so much before you end up in trouble. Walk away, but leave the door open, let her come to you. If you continue to force this issue down her throat it will not end the way you hope. It's time that her family takes control of the situation.
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Thank you so much for that i think maybe she is in denial or embarrassed to be 'labelled' with ADD so it might be easier for her to say she's outgrown it. It is easy to think that especially as you say with everyone who up until 10/20 years ago it was believed ADHD was a childhood disorder.
I am glad you're channelling your mind to the best of your ability, being active is healthy for everyone so it's good you manage it well unlike my friend who is subconsciously ruining her life. I'm trying to stop her hitting rock bottom....again... Because last time she had suicidal thoughts and it worried me greatly.
I like to think my head is pretty screwed on but as you say we're only 18 and got A LOT more to learn. She is a bit naive and thinks that having less friends will cause less drama so she can focus on her boyfriend.... Until her attention shifts again. She runs her relationships into the ground where she doesn't like them before she goes into a relationship but will change her mind the next minute and hyperfocus on them.
I'm trying to explain to her that this is where it all goes wrong for her as she neglects everything else. When she ends a relationship thats when reality hits her and she likes talking to me again.
I think you're doing brilliantly, yeah you may not be able to focus on uninteresting things but you gotta remember that, that is you so don't change yourself just to fit in with boring 'normal' people whatever normal is.
I agree there is only so much you can do for someone that won't help themselves so maybe she has to hit rock bottom in order to have a wake up call to treat/manage her ADD.
I suspect she has borderline personality disorder too as she has a lot of the symptoms and it could be a comorbid of her ADD. I don't know though i'm not here to judge or diagnose but it could explain her desire to always be talking to someone on the phone. Which could explain the intense relationship issue.
Thank you so much again
I appreciate it
Claire